Marie frangois jules willemin



(No Model.)

M. P. J. WILLEMIN.

CARRIAGE SHAFT.

Patented,Aug. 4, 1896.

WITNESSES.

vveuq WW ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARIE FRANQOIS J ULES WILLEMIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

- CARRIAG E-SHAFT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,316, dated August4, 1896.

Application filed April 11, 1896. Serial No. 587,216. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, lVIARIE FRANQOIS JULES" WVILLEMIN, of the city ofParis, France, have invented Improvements in Shafts for Carriages andother Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to an unbreakable shaft for carriages and othervehicles characterized by the application of a kind of joint enablingthe shaft to fold in the vertical direction without breaking when thehorse falls.

In order that my invention may be properly understood, I haverepresented the same by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device applied, parts being in section,the shaft or thill being shown in part. Fig. 2 is a sectional sideelevation, and Fig.3 is a side elevation of the shaft having myinvention applied.

In the figures similar letters of reference designate correspondingparts.

My device comprises, in principle, two sleeves or sockets a 79, securedby means of lugs c and screws or bolts to the parts 01 e of the shaft.Each of the sleeves or sockets a b has an interior shoulder f, uponwhich bears a helical spring g, traversed by bolts h, having articulatedconnection, as at 'i, with the forked ends of a coupling-block is. Thisblock is provided with tWo studs Z, engaging with corresponding recessesor holes formed in the sleeves or sockets to bat the meeting ends of thelatter. Upon each of the bolts h at the outer ends is placed a disk orWasher m, held by a nut 11, the washers thus forming adjustableabutments for the outer ends of the springs 9. From this it will bereadily understood that the parts 01 e of the shaft, being fitted in thesleeves or sockets a b and united in the manner set forth, constitute ashaft absolutely rigid lengthwise.

If, through any cause, the horse falls, the weight of his body willforce the part 01 of the shaft to bear upon the ground, while the part 6under this pressure will turn about the axis '5, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3. During this time the spring Q will be compressed and assoon as the animal rises again the part c of the shaft, under the actionof this spring, will return to its original position.

If the part d of the shaft is raised instead of lowered, the part ethereof will be lowered. This movement of the part e of the shaft in thetwo directions is represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It follows fromthis arrangement that if the animal falls, no matter in what position hemay lie on the shaft, the latter will not be broken.

I claim 1. An unbreakable shaft for carriages and other vehicles,consisting of sleeves or sockets ab having internal shoulders f fittedupon the parts d e of the said shaft, connected by a forkedcoupling-block 70 provided with bolts h traversing springs g pressedagainst the shoulders f by means of disks or washers m and nuts 71. asdescribed.

2. The herein-described coupling devices comprising sleeves, bolts, anda couplingblock forming an articulated connection between the bolts, theblock having lugs projecting between the meeting ends of the sleeves andsprings on the bolts, substantially as described.

3. A coupling device for shafts, consisting of two sleeves adapted to besecured to the sections of the shafts, said sleeves having internalshoulders and provided with recesses in their adjacent ends, a blockprovided with studs projecting from opposite sides and engaging therecesses of the sleeves, bolts pivoted to the block and provided withabutments on their ends, and springs surrounding the bolts and engagingthe shoulders of the sleeves and abutments of the bolts, substantiallyas described.

The foregoing specification of my improve ments in shafts for carriagesand other vehicles signed by me this 25th day of March, 1896.

MARIE FRANQOIS JlJLES WILLEMIN.

l/Vitnesses CLYDE SHROPSHIRE, ALBERT MOREAU.

